But that decision could mean less business for area registration sites.

The BP gas station in Lake Tomahawk registers about 500 deer a year.

It's the only registration location between Rhinelander and Minocqua.

The station's owners say most people who register deer also buy other things like pizza, beer and snacks.

The store depends on deer registration to get through the lull between the summer and snowmobile season.

"500 customers means a lot to us....It's going to hurt our businesses. We live in such a small community. Then it will be hard to survive," said BP Lake Tomahawk owner Meena Arora.

We called seven businesses that register deer in our area.

All but one said eliminating in-person deer registration will hurt business.

We also asked our Facebook Friends what they thought.

Brenda Yaekel posted, "I do not think they should take away from the local places that support hunting. Business is slow enough."

But hunter Gregory Dodge wrote, "I like the idea. I'm a long way from a registration station, over an hour round trip just to register a deer which takes under 5 minutes to do. They have been doing this out west for a long time with no issues."

You can call in deer registration or register deer online under the new system.

WISCONSIN - Anyone who loves hunting and fishing will need to apply for a license. The deadline for some hunting and fishing licenses is August 1 at 11:59 p.m.

Hunters, trappers and spearers can go on the DNR website to apply.

"This is the time of year where not a lot of people are thinking about hunting, but that August 1 date is that date for applying for a bobcat, fisher or otter tag, sharp-tail grouse, or sturgeon spearing or fall turkey," said DNR Warden Supervisor David Walz.

ST. GERMAIN - The last day of Pig in the Pines wrapped up Saturday. People were able to watch the rib eating contest in the afternoon.

Newswatch 12 got to help judge ribs from this year's four rib vendors. One of the big events happened on the main stage Saturday evening.

"We have entertainment all day long," said St. Germain Chamber President Bruce Weber. "We have the Wise Guys on our main stage. We have Laura Ernst on the aerial platform here. She also does juggling. On our major stage, we have One Ping Only, and we also have Molly Hatchet, our lead act tonight."

ONEIDA COUNTY - Invasive species specialists work hard to protect our environment, but a few lakes in Oneida County aren't doing as well as experts would like.

Aquatic experts have found invasive species in four new Oneida County lakes this summer. Those discoveries are not great signs for the health of the environment, but the numbers also aren't as bad as years ago, when specialists might have found acres of an invasive species in some lakes. The new discoveries, though, are still troubling.

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